THUNDER BAY — The leaders of the five Lakehead Junior Hockey League (LJHL) teams can’t wait to start the second half of the season.
Assistant Captain Mitch Moore of the second-year Current River Storm (10-2-0) feels the team has made massive strides in 2023/2024.
“It’s been clear since our first practice that we have a special group here,” Moore said. “The coaches came in day one this year and laid out our goals [that] we want to accomplish this season. They had high expectations of this team from the start and it’s nice that we’ve been able to deliver on those so far.”
Moore was also asked about the relationship between the coaching staff and players, and said “The coaches care a lot and [are] very invested in building something great here. As players, it helps knowing that your coaches have your back and care as much as you do. All the people within the organization do a lot for us players and we really appreciate that.”
Captain Carter Hargreaves of the Nipigon Elks (2-9-2) noted that his team has changed completely this year, but feels the group is progressing in the right direction to start winning games in the new year.
When asked about new Head Coach John Coppock, Hargreaves said “John has adapted adequately to the team. He has shown competitiveness and trust [in] each player. He is a fantastic coach and we are pleased to have him apart of the [squad].”
Captain Owen Keene of the Schreiber Falcons (8-4) likes the fact that his team is in the mix for the top spot heading into 2024.
“I think the results [this season as compared to last] are similar, in that the top three teams are the same, just [in a different order]. It’s always going to be tight between us, [the] Current River [Storm] and the Thunder Bay Northern Hawks.”
The Thunder Bay Bandits (3-8-2) have adapted to a new home building and were able to skate in the first-ever League Showcase final at the Fort William First Nation Arena.
Captain Darian Smith admits the dynamic of the team has changed with a lot of new and young players.
“The first half of the season there has been a lot of adjustments made, seeing what works and creating [that] team identity. There’s a lot of dedication in our dressing room this year, which was something that fizzled out last year due to various reasons,” Smith noted.
Smith mentioned that the team is adjusting to the new coaching staff, adding that they dedicated a lot of their time to help both team and individual improvements.
Finally, Captain Matt Pogue of the defending league champion Thunder Bay Northern Hawks (8-4-0) says that with a majority of the core group still intact, this season has felt similar to last season.
“Obviously, at the start [of the season], it was a little different having to leave a rink that is so full of history and memories for the team but I think we were able to adapt quickly to the changes and are looking forward to creating new history for the [Northern] Hawks organization,” Pogue added. “As far as the addition to the coaching staff, I think that Matt [Valley] has been able to find his spot among us and has been a great help throughout the year. I know that the guys are glad to have him be a part of this team.”
Regular season play will resume on Thursday, January 4th.
